“We feel a little disappointed we got passed up by some teams we beat in the Big Ten,” Astorino said on the Big Ten Network.

The Nittany Lions will be playing in one of the least desirable bowl games with a Big Ten tie-in, despite, as Astorino said, defeating a number of conference teams in more appealing games. The Lions have an exciting opponent in Houston, but because of the negative publicity surrounding the team with the scandal that rocked Happy Valley, Penn State isn’t playing in the sort of bowl expected for a 9-3 team.

Here is where those three teams Astorino was referencing are going.

Ohio State, 6-6

Despite the Nittany Lions defeating Ohio State in Columbus, 20-14, it was the Buckeyes invited to the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville instead of Penn State. An Urban Meyer showdown was too much for the bowl’s representatives to turn down.

Iowa, 7-5

Behind a stifling defense, the Nittany Lions smothered the Hawkeyes at Beaver Stadium in October, 13-3. However, even though Iowa underwhelmed this year, they were asked to compete in the Insight Bowl against Oklahoma this year.

Northwestern, 6-6

Penn State’s offense came alive with Matt McGloin under center on the road against the Wildcats as the Lions put up 34 points. The Lions will be forced to watch the Wildcats take on Texas A&M in the Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas, a higher bowl in the pecking order.

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